7
The Mechanical Girl Translated by je_tatica
Edited by Kroana
, Belik and Moshalutz valetine
But helpless Pieces of the game he plays
On this chessboard of Nights and Days
moves back and forth, and restrain and kill.
- "The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam"
Translated by Edward Fitzgerald, 1859
was dark outside the Institute, and the flashlight emitting extrañassombras Sophie dancing on the walls while driving down Tessa a tramode stone stairs after another. The stairs were old, concave elcentro, where generations of feet had worn. The stone walls Eranda rough texture, tiny windows set in them to eventually place intervalosdando emptiness that seemed to indicate that habíanpasado underground.
"Sophie," said Tessa finally with losnervios to raw from the darkness and silence, "Are we going down the wing crypt of the church, by any chance?"
Sophie chuckled and lalinterna lights flickered on the walls. "It used to be the crypt, before elSr. Branwell unlaboratorio have arranged for himself. He's always down there, playing with her juguetesy experiments. It becomes even half of Mrs. Branwell crazy."
" What are you doing? " Tessa almost tropezócon an irregular step and had to grab onto the wall to the right unto itself. Sophie seemed not to notice.
"All sorts of things," Sophie said, her strangely vozresonaba on the walls. "Inventing new weapons, equipment deprotection for Shadow Hunters. He loves derelojería mechanisms and that sort of thing. Mrs. Branwell sometimes says he thinks she would love more if I did like a clock ticking." He laughed.
"That sounds," said Tessa, "as siestuvieras fond of them. Mr. and Mrs. Branwell, I mean." Sophieno said nothing, but pride was at his back looking UNPOC harden.
"More fond of them than they are with Will, anyway, "said Tessa, hoping to soften the mood with humor the other girl.
" Him. " The disgust was evident in the voice of Sophie. "It's ... well, it's a bad guy, right? Son reminds me of my last employer. Orgullosoal was like Mr. Herondale. And what I want, get it, from the day inwhichthe born. And if he does not getting, well ... "stretched then casiinconscientemente, and touched the side of his face where the scar running from his temple suboca.
"So what?"
abruptly But Sophie was back. "Entonceslanzaría an attack, that's all." Turning unamano brilliant lantern to the other, looked down into the gloom. "Be careful here, miss. The ladder can be very wet and slippery to partywhich bottom. "
Tessa went to the wall. The stone was cold contrasu bare hand." You think it's simply because Will is a Shadow Hunter? "She asked. "And they ... well, they would rather think they're cool, right? Jessamine as well ..."
"But Mr. Carstairs not. Absolutoa not appear in others. Nor are Mr. and Mrs. . Branwell. "
Before Tessa could say anything else, llegarona an abrupt stop at the foot of the stairs. There was a heavy door robleallí, with a rack stuck in her, Tessa could not see anything through larejilla but shadows. Sophie took the broad iron bar through pf and pushed down hard.
The door opened to a huge space well iluminado.Tessa moved to a room with their eyes wide open: this clearly habíasido the crypt of the church who had originally been in this place. Gruesospilares supported a roof which disappeared in the dark. Estabaformado soil by large stone slabs darkened with age, some estabantalladas with words, and surmised that Tessa was standing on the stones, and loshuesos of which had been buried in the crypt. There were no windows, bright white light perola Tessa had become known as luzmágica shining from the brass fittings subject to the pillars.
In the center of the room was a series Degrand wooden tables, surfaces covered with all kinds of objetosmecánicos, gears and sprockets due yhierro made of burnished bronze, long strands of copper wire, beakers of liquids cristalllenos of different colors, some of them gave off smoke and odor volutasde bitter. The metallic and acrid air smelled like air before Deuna storm. A table was covered completely with weapons scattered light gleamed lashojas magic. There was a half-completed suit of queparecía metal armor with fine inlaid, hanging from a wire armazónde a large stone table, whose surface was hidden by uncúmulo of packages of thick wool blankets.
Behind the table was Henry, and beside it, Charlotte. Henry was showing something that his wife was holding in his hand a copper wheel, maybe a gear-and low Envoz spoke. He wore a loose cloth over his clothes, as a delantalde fisherman, and was stained by dirt and dark fluid. However, what most struck him about Tessa, was speaking aCharlotte safety. There was none of their usual timidity. Ydirecto was confident, and her hazel eyes, when raised to look at Tessa, eranclaros and stable.
"Miss Gray! So elcamino Sophie showed up here, right? Good for her."
"Why, yes, she ..." Tessa began looking behind her, but Sophie was not there. He must have turned and left wing door quietly back down the stairs. Tessa sintióestúpida not have noticed. "He did," ended. "She dijoque you wanted to see me?"
"In fact," said Henry. "Podríamosusar your help with something. Could you come here for a moment?"
He gestured for her to meet yCharlotte him at the table. When Tessa came, he saw the face of Charlotte estabablanco and haggard, his brown eyes were shadowed. Tessa looked at, it thrust its teeth through his lips and looked down at the table, where piles of fabrics sehabían ... moved.
Tessa blinked. Had he imagined? But no, there was a flash demoted ... and now that was closer, he saw what was on the Parmesan was a lot of fabric but eratela covering something, something about the size and shape of a cuerpohumano. He stopped short, when Henry came, took a corner of the fabric, and removed, revealing what had below.
Tessa, feeling the sudden dizziness, seestiró to grab the edge of the table. "Miranda."
The dead girl was lying on his back on Lamesa, his arms thrown on either side, his shabby brown hair desordenadoalrededor their shoulders. The eyes that had so unnerved Tessa sehabían gone. There was now black and empty river in her white face. Your vestidobarato had been cut into the front, exposing supecho. Tessa grimaced, looked away and then quickly returned Amira, in disbelief. Because there was no naked flesh, and there was no blood, despite the fact that Miranda's chest sliced \u200b\u200bin front desprendíade your skin either side as the skin of an orange. Beneath the gleaming brightness mutilacióngrotesca ... metal? Tessa
moved forward until he was depi against Henry at the table where I was Miranda. Where there should be habidosangre, torn flesh, and mayhem, there were only two sheets of pielblanca bent backwards, and beneath a shell of metal. Decobre sheets, tightly coupled, made up his chest, waving gently in a cage haciaabajo articulated flexible copper and brass that came to lacintura de Miranda. A square of copper, the size of the palm of Tessa, faltabaen the center of the chest of the girl dead, revealing a hollow space.
"Tessa." Charlotte's voice erasuave but insistent. "Will and Jem found this ... this body in the casadonde were maintained. The house was completely empty except for her, had been left in a room alone."
Tessa, still staring in fascination, she nodded. "Miranda. The Maid of the Sisters. "
"Do you know anything about it? Who can be? Suhistoria?"
"No. No. I just ... I mean, she almost never spoke, and then sólorepetía things that the sisters had said."
hooked a finger on the lower lip of Miranda and opened his mouth. "Engine that has rudimentary metal tongue, but his mouth does not really created for elhabla, or to consume food. There is no throat, and I imagine not estómago.Su mouth ends on a sheet of metal behind the teeth." Lacabeza turned from side to side, his eyes narrowing.
"But what is it?" Asked Tessa. "A sort of underworld, or undemonio?"
"No." Henry dropped the jaw of Miranda. "No esprecisamente a living at all. It is a PLC. A mechanical creature, made to move and act as a human being moves and acts. Designed a Leonardo daVinci. You can find it in his drawings, a mechanical creature quepodía sitting, walking and moving his head. It was the first to suggest that human losseres only complex machines that are within is comoengranajes cams and pistons and muscle and flesh. So why should not they aser replaced by copper and iron? Why could not build a person? But this. Jaquet Droz and Maillardet [1] never could have dreamed of this. A biomechanical real robot, auto-motor, self-addressed, wrapped in human flesh. "His eyes twinkled." Eshermoso. "
" Henry. " Voice of Charlotte was strict. "Esacarne you're admiring. He came from somewhere."
Henry wiped the back of his hand across his forehead, Laluz disappearing from their eyes.
"Yes ... those bodies in the basement."
"The Silent Brothers have examined this. Faltanla most organs, heart, liver. Missing some bones and cartilage, even hair. We can not but assume that the Dark Sisters were recolectandopiezas of these bodies to create mechanical creatures. ComoMiranda creatures. "
" And the coachman, "said Tessa." Queél I was one, too. But why would anyone do that? "
" More, " said Charlotte. "Mechanical Withthe tools in the basement of the Dark Sisters were fabricadaspor Mortmain Company and Company. The company for which his hermanotrabajaba."
"Mortmain!" Tessa lachica tore his gaze from the table. "You went to see him, right? What did he say about Nate?"
Charlotte hesitated for a moment, looking at Henry.Tessa knew that look. It was the kind of look that people gave each other when they were to participate in a joint falsehood. Demir type she and Nathaniel had given each other once, when habíanestado hiding something for Aunt Harriet.
"It is hiding something, "he said." DondeEsta my brother? Mortmain What do you know? "
Charlotte sighed. "Profundamenteinvolucrado Mortmain is hidden in the underworld. Member of the Club of Pandemonium, the cualparece be directed by Underworld."
"But what has to do with my brother?"
"His brother found out about the club and estabafascinado by it. He went to work for a vampire named Quincey. UnSubmundo very influential. De Quincey is actually the head of Pandemonium Club." Charlotte sounded bitterly upset. "There is a title that goes with folklore work, apparently."
Feeling suddenly dizzy, Tessa underpinned Sumano against the edge of the table. "Master?"
Charlotte looked at Henry, who had his hand on his chest withinthe panel of the creature. He reached and pulled out something, a human heart, red and meaty, but look hard and shiny as if barnizado.Estaba been tied round with copper and silver. Every few moments dabagolpes languid. For some reason, still beating.
"Would you like to hold?" I asked Atessa. "You should carefully sr. These copper tubes are rolled into todoel creature's body, carrying oil and other liquids inflamables.Todavía I have to identify them all. "Tessa shook
head.
"Okay." Henry looked disappointed. "I wish there anything you see. If you just look here ... "the heart gently turned her long fingers, revealing a flat metal panel on the opposite side ofthis. The panel was embossed with a seal, a large Q and small D inits interior.
"The mark of De Quincey," said Charlotte. Seemed bleak. "Lohe seen before, in your correspondence.'s Always been a key ally, OESO I thought. He was there when the agreements were signed. It is a hombrepoderoso. It controls all the Children of the Night in the western part of THE CITY. Mortmain Quincey said he bought mechanical parts, and this parececonfirmarlo. It seems as if you were not alone in the house of HermanasOscuras who was preparing for the Master's use. These creatures mecánicastambién. "
" If this vampire is the Master, "dijoTessa slowly," then it is dark by the Sisters who captured me, and he's the one compelled to write this letter Nate. He must know where mihermano. "
Charlotte almost smiled." Just unpropósito, is not it. "
Tessa's voice was hard." Do not think I do not know what Master quiereconmigo. Why I captured and trained. How the hell knew I had my ... I do not think habilidad.Y not going to want revenge if I could have it. "Dio unsuspiro trembling." But my brother is all I have. I have queencontrarlo. "
" We're going to find, Tessa, "dijoCharlotte." Somehow all this, the Sisters Dark, his brother, his own ability, and participation of De Quincey, fits like unrompecabezas. We simply have not yet found all the missing pieces. "
" I have to say, I hope the encontremospronto, "Henry said, casting a sad look to the body on the table." What you might want a vampire with a lot of Mechanical half people? Nadade this makes sense. "
"Not yet," said Charlotte, and lowered supequeña chin. "But it will."
Henry stayed in his laboratory, even after Charlotte had announced it was time to return deque up for dinner. Insisting that he would go in five minutes, fired distracted Charlotte hand while shaking his head.
"Henry's lab ... nadaigual never seen," said Tessa Charlotte when they were in the middle of the escalera.Ya was winded, even though Charlotte is moving steadily, and it seemed determined never tired.
"Yes," replied Charlotte with some sadness. "Henry would spend all day and all night there if I would allow." Siyo
would allow. The words surprised Tessa. Was the husband, who decided what was and was not allowed, and how yourhome should be handled, right? The wife's duty was simply carrying out their wishes, and offer a haven of calm and stability worldfor chaos. A place you could retire. However, it difícilmenteera Institute. It was partly home, inside, and some battle station. Yquien want that from him was, clearly was not Henry.
With an exclamation of surprise, Charlotte detuvoun Tessa step above. "Jessamine! What is the problem?"
Tessa looked up. Jessamine was at the top of the stairs, enmarcadaen the door open. He still wore the clothes of the day, although his hair curly now made, was clearly arranged for the night, no doubt always patient Porla Sophie. He had a huge grin on his face.
"You Will," he said. "It is being absolutely ridiculous in the lunchroom."
Charlotte looked puzzled. "How is this different from him being totalmenteridículo in the library or the armory or any of that normally ElseWheres is ridiculous? "
" Because, "said Jessamine, as if estodebiera be obvious," we have to eat in the lunchroom. "ycaminó He turned awkwardly down the hall, looking over his shoulder to Tessa and Charlotte asegurarsede following.
Tessa could not help smiling. "It's kind comosi were his children, right?"
Charlotte sighed. "Yes," she said. "Except for the part in which they are bound to love, I guess."
could not think of anything to say in response to that.
* * *
Since
Charlotte insisted that there was something quetenía to do in the lounge before dinner, Tessa went to the habitaciónpor itself. Once we got there, very proud of herself for not haberseperdido on the road, he found that Will was standing on one of losaparadores, playing with something hanging from the ceiling.
Jem was sitting in a chair, staring at Will with a dubious expression. "I served well if you break it," he said, and bowed his head when he saw Atessa. "Good evening, Tessa." Following his gaze, he smiled. "Estabacolgando gasolier twisted, and Will is trying to straighten it."
I saw nothing wrong with the gas chandelier, but before pudieradecirlo, Jessamine majestically entering the room, glanced at Will. "Really!" Can not you bring Thomas to do that? Uncaballero not need ... "
" Is that blood on your sleeve, Jessie? "Asked Will, looking down.
Jessamine's face tightened. Without another word sustalones turned on and left the other end of the table where he sat in a chair Ymir glacially forward.
"Did something happen while you and Jessamine were out?" It was Jem, looking genuinely concerned. As he turned his head to look at Tessa, she saw something green glow against the base of her throat. Jessamine looked
Tessa, a look of panic in surostro. "No," Tessa began. "It was not ..."
"I did it!" Henry entered the habitacióntriunfalmente, waving something in his hand. He looked like a copper tube with black on one side unbotón. "I bet you could not believe that, right?" Will
abandoned efforts to look Gaspar chandelier Henry. "None of us has the slightest idea of \u200b\u200bwhat queestás doing. You know that?"
"I finally got my paratrabajar Match." Henry proudly brandished the object. "Works with magical light principiode but five times more potent. Ypodrás Simply press a button to see a flash of light as you never imagined."
There was silence. "So," Will said, finally, "is a very, muybrillante magical light, then?"
"Exactly," said Henry.
"Is that very useful?" Jem asked. "After all, the magic light is just for lighting. Sifuera not as dangerous ..."
"Wait until you see it!" Answered Henry. He held the object. "Mira. "
Will moved toward the object, but it was too late Henry and habíapresionado the button. There was a blinding flash of light and a hissing sound, and lahabitación was plunged into darkness. Tessa screamed in surprise and laughed softly Jems.
"Am I blind?" Will's voice floated in the dark, stained demolestia. "I will not be at all happy if I blinded you, Henry."
"No," Henry sounded worried. "No, the Fósforoparece ... Well, seems to have turned off all the lights in the room."
"Are not you supposed to do that?" Sonabasuave Jem, as always.
"Hey," said Henry, "no." Will
muttered something. Tessa could not, but I was pretty sure he had caught the words "Henry" and "dull." A moment later there was a choqueenorme.
"Will!" Someone shouted in alarm. Bright light filled the room, sending them to an attack Tessa flicker. Charlotte stood in the door, holding up a light bulb in one hand magic, and Will was throw away the floor at his feet in a sea of \u200b\u200bbroken dishes on the sideboard. "What on EARTH ...?"
"I was trying to straighten the candlestick degas," Will said in a bad mood, sitting and brushing bits tableware desu shirt.
"Thomas could have done that. And now you've removed and destroyed Lamitan of the dishes."
"And thanks to your husband an idiot for that." Willse saw himself. "I think I've broken something. The pain is bastanteagónico."
"look pretty intact to me." Fuedespiadada Charlotte. "Arise. I suppose you have to eat with estanoche magical light. "
Jessamine, at the end of the table, he inhaled. It was the first sound he had made desdeque Will had asked about the blood on his jacket." I hate magic Laluz . It makes my skin look absolutely green. "
Despite the green of Jessamine, Tessa found that most well-liked Laluz magic. Extended diffuse white glow over everything and made peas and onions inclusolos lucieran romantic and mysterious. While unpanecillo butter smeared with a solid silver knife, I could not dépenses in the small apartment in Manhattan, where she, her brother and his little tíahabían eating dinner around a simple pine table in the light Deunan few candles. Aunt Harriet had always been careful to keep everything clean tanescrupulosamente from white lace curtains on the windows Hastal shining copper kettle on the stove. Always said that cuantomenos be had, played be more careful about everything I had. Tessa sepreguntó if Shadow Hunters were careful with everything they had.
Charlotte and Henry made an inventory of what they had learned from Mortmain, Jem and Will listened wearily atenciónmientras Jessamine looked out the window. Jem parecíaespecialmente interested in the description of the house Mortmain with susartefactos worldwide.
"I told you," he said. "Taipan. All men piensanen themselves as very important. Above the law. "
" Yes, "said Charlotte." I had this shape around as if estuvieraacostumbrado to be heard. Men like him are often white fácilespara who want to attract the Shadow World. Tenerpoder accustomed to and expect to be able to get more power with ease and with a bajocosto for themselves. They have no idea how high is the price for power the Underworld. "He turned, frowning Will and Jessamine, who seemed discutiendoacerca something in a surly tone." What's wrong with you two? "
Tessa took the opportunity to turn over to Jem, who was sitting at his ladoderecho. "Shanghai," he said softly. "sounds so fascinating. Megustaría to travel there. I've always wanted to travel. "
Jem smiled when he saw him again shine in his throat. Colgantetallado stone was a pale green." And now you've done. You are here, right? "
" I've only traveled before in books. Suenatonto I know, but ... "
Jessamine interrupted by slamming his fork down on the table." Charlotte, "a shrill voice called" Make Will leave me alone. "
Will was
leaning back in his chair, his blue eyes sparkling. "Sime says why has blood on his clothes, leave you alone. Let guess, Jessie. Runs after a poor woman in the park who had the misfortune dellevar a dress like yours, and faced off with her umbrella gargantacon cunning that you have. Do I have reason? "Jessamine
bared his teeth." You siendoridículo. "
" Loera, you know, "said Charlotte.
" I mean, I'm wearing blue. The blue goes with everything, "he continued Jessamine." Which, actually, you know. You're vain enough ADVISED your own clothes. "
" Blue does not go with everything, "said Will." It goes with the red, forexample. "
" I have a life red and blue striped "intervinoHenry, picking peas.
"And if that is not proof that those two should be seen together coloresnunca under heaven do not know what it is."
"Will," said Charlotte sharply. "Do not talk to Henry esaforma. Henry ..."
Henry looked up. Yes?
Charlotte sighed. "It's the dish you are inthe Jessamine spooning peas, not yours. Pay attention, dear."
As Henry looked down in surprise, pf the dining room opened and Sophie. His head was down, elpelo glossy black. As he bent to whisper Charlotte, light mágicaemitió an attractive glow on his face, making the scar brillaracomo silver against his skin.
A look of relief spread over rostrode Charlotte. A moment later he stood up and went apresuradamentede the room, stopping only to touch lightly on the hombromientras Henry went.
Jessamine brown eyes widened. "Where you going?" Will
looked at Sophie, her gaze sliding sobreella thus knew that Tessa was as if the tips of their dedosestuvieran caressing to your skin. "In fact, Sophie, dear." Adóndese was? "
Sophie gave him a venomous look." If Mrs. Branwell hubieraquerido I knew, I'm sure she would have said, "dijobruscamente, and hurried from the room after his wife.
Henry, having left the peas, tried a friendly smile. "Well, then," he said. "What was what we were discussing?"
"Nay," said Will. "We want to know where you've idoCharlotte. Did something happen?"
"No," said Henry. "I mean, I do not ..." He threw a look around the room, saw cuatropares of eyes on him, and sighed. "Charlotte does not always tell me what queestá doing. They know that." He smiled a little sore. "The puedeculpar not really. You can not count on me to be sensible."
Tessa wanted to say something to comfort Henry. There was something about him that Nate lehizo think when I was younger, sloppy, clumsy and easily hurt. Reflection Comoacto raised his hand to touch the angel in the neck, buscandoconsuelo in its constant ticking.
Henry looked at her. "This object mechanisms leading neck ... could see for a moment?"
Tessa
hesitated, then nodded. It was just Henry, after all. Lahebilla undid the chain, removed his collar and handed it over.
"This is a nifty little object," he said, turning in his hands. "Where did you get it?"
"It was my mother."
"As a kind of talisman." He looked up. "Leimporta if examined in the lab?"
"Oh." Tessa could not hide his anxiety. "If he is very careful with him. It's all I have of my mother. If it breaks ... "
"Henry did not break or damage," Jem reassured. "Esrealmente very good with this sort of thing."
"True," said Henry, ynatural so modest about it, which seemed not presumed by the statement. "It's going to get back to you in perfect condition."
"Well ..." Tessa hesitated.
"I do not see what all the fuss," said Jessamine, who seemed aburridacon this whole exchange. "It's not like you have diamonds."
"Some people value the feelings sobrelos diamonds, Jessamine." Charlotte was standing at the door. Parecíapreocupada. "Is anyone here wants to talk to you, Tessa."
"Me?" Tessa asked the angel mecánicofue forgotten for the moment.
"Well, who is?" Said Will. "Got quemantenernos everyone in suspense? "
Charlotte sighed." Belcourt is lady. Estáabajo. In the Hall of the Sanctuary. "
" Now? "Will frowned." Did something happen? "
" I contacted her, "said Charlotte." About De Quincey. Justoantes dinner. Expected to have some information, and is, to see first peroinsiste Tessa. It seems that despite all nuestrasprecauciones, Tessa rumors have seeped into the Underworld, and LadyBelcourt is ... concerned. "
Tessa dropped his fork, with a noise." Interested in what? "Miróalrededor the table, realizing that four pairs of eyes were fijosen it now." Who is Lady Belcourt? "
When no one answered, he turned to Jem and the most likely queer give him an answer. "Is a Shadow Hunter?"
"It's a vampire," said Jem. "Unvampiro informant, actually. Provides information to Charlotte and Atlanta keeps us from what is happening in the community of the Night. "
" do not have to talk to her unless you want, Tessa, "said Charlotte. "I can throw."
"No," Tessa pushed his plate. "If you are well informed about DeQuincey, may know something about Nate too. I can not risk that if you can get information seaexpulsada. I will."
"Will not you at least know what you want deti? Will asked.
Tessa looked wary. The light was magic to see her pale skin, blue eyes másintensamente. They were the color of the waters of the North Atlantic, where elhielo derived in blue-black area as snow is clinging to a window cristaloscuro. "Beyond the Dark Sister, I've never conocidoa another Underworld," he said. "I think ... I would like. "
" Tessa "began Jem, but she was standing. Do not look back added in the table, left the room after Charlotte.
[1] Maillardet Henri (1745 - ?) was a 18th century Swiss mechanical engaged in working in London producing clocks and other mechanisms. spent a TIME PERIOD in the shops of Pierre Jaquet-Droz, who was in the business deproducir clocks, dials, and robots.
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